Hand-brace and wrist-support.



H. W. TUCKER.

HAND BRACE AND WRIST SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 22,19l4.

Patent ed May 29, 1917.

JZw/M/ 3% amt W HAMILTON W. TUCKER, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

HAND-BRACE AND WRIST-SUPPORT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 29, 1917.

Application filed July 22, 1914. Serial No. 852,334.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HAMILTON W. TooKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at lVashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hand-Braces and Wrist-Supports, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is in the nature of a hand brace and wrist support and has for its object to provide an article of this class which will afford a firm support for the wrist at its Weakest point, will brace the hand of a paralytic, will hold the fingers in a natural position, will prevent strain upon and pain from weak wrists and will enable a paralytic, or a person with a weak Wrist, to enjoy comfort by proper adjustment to hold the hand in its natural shape, the device being provided with means for ventilation and adj ustment to different sizes.

With this object in view the invention consists in the improved construction, arrangement and combination of the parts of a hand brace and wrist support which will be hereinafter fully described and afterward specifically claimed.

In order that the construction and operation thereof may be readily comprehended, I will now proceed to specifically describe my invention as embodied in the construction which I have found by personal use to be very eflicient, and which I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which drawings Figure 1, represents my improved device flattend out and ready for application, the lacing strings being omitted.

Fig. 2, represents the device applied in position, looking at it from the front of the hand.

Fig. 3, represents the same construction as in Fig. 2 looking at the rear of the hand.

Fig. represents a transverse sectional view through the device in the shape it assumes when applied to the wrist and hand, the plane of the section being indicated by the broken lines H of Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 5, represents a transverse sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the broken lines 5-5 of Figs. 2 and 3.

Like reference characters indicate the same parts whenever they occur in a plurality of the figures of the drawings.

The device as illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter described is shown in a form for use on the left wrist and hand of the wearer but it will be readily understood that by changing the thumb opening to the opposite side of the center of the blank as shown in Fig. 1, it will serve equally well to brace and support the right hand and wrist.

I have found by practical experience that my improved wrist brace and hand support may be made of any moderately stifi? and flexible material, certain grades of leather being especially adapted to its construction, but it will be obvious that the invention is not limited to the particular material of which it may be made, it being only necessary that the material selected shall have the proper degree of stiffness and flexibility.

I have designated the main sheet or body of the device by the numeral and this sheet is preferably formed with substantial straight outer and inner ends 11 and 12 and curved sides 13 and 14. In the main body is provided an opening 15 through which to pass the thumb 16, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and when the body is applied upon the hand and wrist of the wearer, the edges must be secured together by some suitable means. For this purpose I have provided lacing holes 17 in each edge of the main body to receive lacing strings 18, as in Fig. 3, which strings may be drawn up and tightened to any suitable degree to cause the body to properly bind upon the wrist and hand. Other means for securing the edges together may suggest themselves to the wearer or manufacturer and would naturally be included within the scope of my invention. When using the lacing strings and holes, additional parallel rows of holes as at 19 may be made in order to more tightly draw the edges together than might be done with the single edge row 17. These parallel rows will be of a special use when it is necessary, on account of the smallness of the Wrist, to slightly overlap the middle edges 14 in order to give proper tightness of fit.

In order that the lacing strings may not bruise or injure the skin of the wearer, I may provide a flap 20 which is secured to the inner side of the body 10 by means of a row of stitches 21 and the edges of the flap will preferably be thinned down to prevent injury to the hand or wrist when the brace and support is tightly laced thereon.

The flap 20 may be secured under either edge of the body, being shown as secured to one edge in Fig. 4 and the other edge in Fig. 5.

In the center of the body 10 I have formed a pocket, in this instance by sewing a strip 22 of leather or other material on the outer side thereof, by means of suitable seams 23, in which pocket is seated a suitable stiffener or brace 2st which may bea strip of strong wood or preferably of sheet metal such as used for corset steels and the like.

The material of the body being somewhat stiff, I prefer to slit the material around the edges of the thumb opening 15 as indicated at 25 so as to leave tongues 26 which will bend or yield when the device is in use and thus prevent injury to the thumb. I also provide clusters of openings 27 at suitable points in the main body in order to permit of ventilation whereby air may pass through to the wrist of the wearer, thereby preventing scalding or chafing which might occur owing to the tendency of the wrist to perspire in hot weather.

I'Vhen the device is in position as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, the weak wrist of the paralyticis braced, strengthened and stiffened. In addition to this the binding of the device transversely upon the hand of the wearer onthe plane l l of Figs. 2 and 3 stifiens and strengthens the palm and knuckles of the hand and firmly holds them in natural position as I have found from my experience in wearing this device personally, having found it of great advantage over many shifts and constructions recommended to me and tried by me prior to my invention of thebrace and support herein described.

While I have herein particularly described the construction, material and form of my invention, I donot confine myself to such particularities of construction, material and form but hold that many slight changes and variations might be made therein-within the limits of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus fully described the construction of my invention and the manner in which the same is to be applied in use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A device of the character described comprising a main body or sheet adapted to inclose the wrist and hand, and means for drawing the edges of said body together to exert binding pressure upon the wrist and also, upon the hand beyond the thumb, an opening being provided for the protrusion of the thumb.

2. A. device of the character described comprising a main body or sheet adapted to inclose the wrist andhand, and means for drawing the edges of said body together to exert binding pressure upon the wrist and also upon the hand beyond the thumb, an opening being provided for the protrusion of the thumb, and the edges of said opening being slitted to leave flexible tongues to. bear against the thumb.

3. A device of the character described comprising a main body or sheet adapted to inclose the wrist and hand, and means for drawing the edges of said body together to exert binding pressure upon the wrist and also upon the hand beyond the thumb, an opening being provided for the protrusion of the thumb, and a longitudinal stiffener secured to the center of the main body.

4:. A device of the character described comprising a comparatively stiff flexible body or sheet adapted to inclose the wrist and hand, a flap secured to the inner side of one edge cf-the body and having its edges thinned, and means for drawing together and securing the edges of the body to brace the hand and support the wrist, the body being provided with an opening topermit of the passage of the thumb.

5. A device of the character described comprising a comparatively stiff flexible body or sheet adapted to inclose the wrist and hand, a flap secured to the inner side of one edge of the body and having its edges thinned, and means for drawing together and securing the edges of the body to brace the hand and support the wrist, the body being provided with an opening to permit of the passage of the thumb, the edges of said opening being slitted to leave flexible tongues to contact with the thumb.

6. A device of the character described comprising a comparatively stiff flexible body or sheet adapted to inclose the wrist and hand, a flap secured to the inner side of one edge of the body and having its edge thinned, and means for drawing together and securing the edges of the body to brace the hand and support the wrist, the body being provided with an opening to permit of the passage of the thumb, the edges of said opening being slitted to leave flexible tongues to contact withthe thumb, and clusters of small openings being provided through the main body to afford ventilation.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HAMILTON IV. TUCKER.

Witnesses S. W. COCKRELL, HARRY Bownns.

Copies of this patentmay be obtgined for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

